Casey Affleck comes out of 2018 Oscars

Oscar-winning actor Casey Affleck has pulled out of this year’s oscars, her publicist has confirmed.

By tradition, Affleck – who won the Best Actor for Manchester By The Sea, in 2017, what would have been expected to present the Best Actress award this year.

The actor, the brother of Hollywood star Ben Affleck, has been sued by two women crew members for sexual harassment in 2010.

He denies the allegations and complaints have been resolved informally.

An academy awards spokesman confirmed that Affleck would not be present, saying: “We appreciate the decision to keep the focus on the show and on the work of this year.”
Oscar-2018: The nominees in fullWhat are the remedies against Affleck?

Affleck is accusing, producer Amanda White and cinematographer Magdalena Gorka, say they have been harassed during the making of the mockumentary film I’m Still Here, which Affleck directed.

Ms. White said Affleck refused to pay her salary, because she didn’t want to spend the night in a hotel room with him, and said that she has endured, “almost daily barrage of sexual comments, innuendo and unwelcome advances by crew members, in the presence and with the active encouragement of Affleck”.

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Ms Gorka claims that Affleck, who was married at the time, had crawled into bed with her as she slept.

The actor’s lawyers argued that the allegations were part of a system to extort money from Affleck.Why is this back in the news?

The claims against Affleck have attracted renewed attention in the months since allegations of sexual abuse have been made against US movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The Weinstein claims that has triggered the rise of the #MeToo hashtag, which has inspired a global movement of women and men to share their stories of sexual abuse and harassment.

Over 300 actresses, writers and directors have responded with the introduction of Time is a project to assist in the fight against sexual harassment in the film industry and other work places.

The initiative was announced via a full-page ad, published in the New York Times.

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On the occasion of the 75th Golden Globe Awards earlier this month, a galaxy of A-list actresses took the red carpet in the black in honour of the victims of sexual harassment. Many actors showed their support by wearing a Time of Up pin on their lapel.

The event was a powerful discourse on the sexual abuse scandal, including one from Oprah Winfrey, who received the world’s attention.
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Golden Globe winners of the call for the change

In a fortnight, however, more of a Golden Globes winner had been publicly accused of sexual misconduct.

US comedian and actor Aziz Ansari, who won the gong for Best TV Actor – comedy or Musical, has been accused of sexual assault by a woman he had been on a date with. He replied that he had believed the encounter to be completely consensual.

Days earlier, James Franco, who won Best Actor in a Comedy globe, has been accused of sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior with five women, including students of his acting school.

Reuters

He told a US TV show: “I have my own side of this story, but I believe that these people who have been under-represented in obtaining their stories enough that I’ll remember the things that I could say simply because I believe that a lot.”

Franco has chosen not to attend the 2018 Critics ‘ Choice Awards in the second week of January, while the controversy was at its peak.

2018 academy awards ceremony will take place on 4 March in Los Angeles.